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Blake JenningsGrace Bible Church SouthwoodSpiritual Disciplines: Study, Meditation, and MemorizationTo grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ we must practice the disciplines of studying, meditating on, andmemorizing God's Word. But that takes desire. We make time for what we most value. So if we'regoing to grow in this discipline, we need to grow our desire for God's Word. We need to rememberwhy an hour in His Word is better than an hour with Sports Center, Facebook, our friends, oranything else. And along with desire, we need ability. We need to know how to study, meditate on,and memorize His Word.Re-intro series- spiritual disciplines: habits of body and mind that allow us to effectively cooperate with God's Spirit inthe process of character transformation.o Disciplines of engagement: Worship, Prayer, Study, Service, Givingo Disciplines of abstinence: Rest, Fasting, Solitude- our part in the process of growing as a disciple of Jesuso grow as a disciple through disciplineo see cause and effect relationship in the English words “discipline” derived from “disciple” – English & Latin because discipline the process that helps you grow as a disciple- BUT, while these disciplines are necessary, they DO NOT in and of themselves make us matureo irony: don’t produce spiritual growtho just make us receptive & available to Spirit who alone can grow uso like lifting weights lifting does not make your muscle bigger – does the opposite! but in response, your body rebuilds biggero spiritual disciplines work the same way they don’t make you holy or mature but they do make you available to the Holy Spirito Richard Foster, “By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us tothe place where something can be done.”This morning: add another discipline to your tool box- actually 3 discrete but related disciplines: study, meditation, and memorization- overall spending quality time in God’s Word.No surprise to hear that to grow as a disciple of Jesus, you must spend quality time in God’s Word – been toldthat all your lifeProblem is: most of us don’t – at least not as much time as we know we should.because we’re busy- life is busy, no matter your occupation- another test, meeting, pile of laundry, bill to pay, something to fix.- phone always chiming with another email / text / voice mail- so busy – no time to be in the Word

But here’s something I’ve learned: no matter how busy we are, we will always find the time to do thethings we value most.- I really want to do a good job when I preach – sacrifice sleep to prepare!- I really want to end the day watching a comedy while snuggling with my wife on the couch – how a day’ssupposed to end! Sacrifice exercise, cleaning, sleepNo matter how busy I am, I will always make time for what I value most.So, if I don’t do something, it’s not because I’m too busy (red herring)It’s because I don’t value it as highly as I value other things- When we don’t spend time in God’s Wordo not because we’re too busyo because we prefer to do other thingso if I really wanted to be in His Word, I’d make sacrificesTherefore: only way to grow in this discipline is to grow our desire for God’s Word- My primary goal this morning- God doesn’t want to guilt you into the Word – guilt just leaves you cold and depressed- God wants to grow your desire – infinitely better motivatorLet’s grow our desire by reminding ourselves of what this book has to offer.In a sense, we need to do some advertising this morning.- You see and hear advertisements all day long – internet, TV, billboards, magazines- Promoting the class-leading features and astounding benefits of a product to grow your desire for thatthing- That’s what we want to do for the Bible this morning – grow our desire- So, let’s put together an advertisement for the Bibleo Think for a moment: if you wanted to convince someone to spend time in this book, whatfeatures would you promote? What benefits would you list?o Why should they spend their precious time in this book instead of giving it to Sports Center, orNCIS, or the latest summer blockbuster, or a NYT bestseller, or Facebook?.Let’s list out the key features and key benefits of the Word of God.A) Key features: What qualities set the Word of God apart from everything else?1) Absolutely trueo Not much in this world that’s absolutely true – even the things that claim to be The news I just want unfiltered, unbiased truth – haven’t found it yet! Just look at how each outlet spun the health care ruling – political bias creepsinto every newsroom Science Surely this accurately reveals truth! Not necessarily A human endeavor, so like all we do, prone to human error & bias

oooNew discoveries prove old discoveries wrong, only to be proven wrongthemselves a few years laterIf we’re looking for absolute truth in the things of man, we will be disappointed!But you will find it in God’s Word. Ps 119:151,160You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. The sum of Your word istruth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. the absolute truthfulness of scripture is something we call inerrancy “Inerrancy means that when all the facts are known, the Scriptures in theiroriginal autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true ineverything they teach, whether that teaching has to do with doctrine, history,science, geography, geology, or other disciplines or knowledge.” Inerrancy means: not only is the Bible true, it’s free of spin This is an election year – airwaves are full of spin That’s how politics work – but not how the Bible works.o Mark, recording Peter’s account. Mk 8:31-33And [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer manythings. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turningaround and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behindMe, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”o Rebukes Lord of Universe - folly! Bad day for Peter!o Peter’s narrating this book – So why include it?!?!o no politician would include something so embarrassing! Consistently the OT & NT unabashedly reveal the greatest falls and mostembarrassing mistakes of God’s peopleo no spin, no cover-up! Just absolute, unfiltered truth.For those of you who are skeptical. yes, I just used circular reasoning – all I can do this morning if you want more robust proof – email me I’ll also send that article out by Facebook & Twitter2) Unchangingo We live in a “Next-Version” culture everything that exists today will soon be made obsolete true of electronics, music, fashion, finance. change is constant. Even if it’s just change for change sake! Skinny jeans! Wasn’t that the 80’s? Then baggy. Now back to skinny. Not because they’re better – but just for the sake of changeo We live in a world of constant changeo In the midst of that change, I desperately need something stable, unchanging, a fixed anchor Ican count on. Isa 40:8 – permanenceThe grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

Mt 5:18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter orstroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” “letter or stroke” jot & tittleo jot yôd smallest Heb letter – looks like an apostropheo tittle smallest Heb stroke – like line that distinguishes a capital R froma capital PPoint: not even one stroke of one letter of God’s Word will be changed orannulled until God fulfills all of it.oSo, there will never be a version 2.0 of the Bible there will never be an update from God Never an, “Oops! That’s the old version – not how life works anymore” Never be a new version because there will never need to be – it was perfect truth thefirst time!oWhen it comes to electronics, fashion, music, movies – we like new things New trends, new discoveries Band no one’s heard of; phone no one has New is great when we’re talking about trivial stuff.But it’s not great when we’re talking about life-and-death stuff! Cancer – would you choose the newest doc in town? Fresh from med school – young,hip? NO! You want the doc with the most experience! My eye – found only guy who had experience Want someone with a proven track recordThat’s why we desperately need God’s Word Proven answers to life-and-death questions Tested and verified for thousands of years in every culture, every scenario If the Bible’s teachings were not reliable, it would have died out But it’s still the most circulated book in human history billions of copies printed translated in whole or part in 2400 languages Why? because it’s proven true and reliable for all people at all times3) Provenoo-What features set the Bible apart from everything else and makes it worth your time:o it’s absolutely true in every detailo it’s unchangingo and it’s proven

Key benefits: What advantages does it give me? How does it make my life better?1) Reveals the path to salvation!o Most extraordinary benefit! Most books can only entertain you. Some can inform you. The best can make you wiser. But the Bible can save you! Lead you to eternal life!!o 2 Tim 3:15.from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdomthat leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.o reveals the way of “salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”Bible God’s detailed revelation of the GOSPEL the good news that.2) Gives strength to battle sino strength: Ps 119:11Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. otreasuring, meditating on God’s Word, memorizing it and contemplating it gave thePsalmist strength to resist sin.When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, what did He do? He quoted Scripture. That’s God’s cure for temptation – turn to scripture to find strength3) Gives peace and securityo Psalm 1:2-3But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be likea tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does notwither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Metaphor – the one who meditates on God’s Word is like a strong oak by a stream thathas a constant supply of water. It grows, it flourishes, it prospers. So will we if we meditate on the Word of God. God will give us peace & security in the storms of life God will grow us spiritually Make our lives significant4) Makes me wiseo so many people dismiss this book as irrelevant – full of old stories and complicated theology,but no use to everyday lifeo but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Speaks to the most pressing issues of our day. how to avoid shame and guilt how to protect and improve our marriages how to raise children how to build wealth and use it in a godly way